Sand-box for cars.



PATENTED @GTL-1v, 1905.A

n. B. KBBP'ORTS; SAND B0X POR GARS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 12, 1905.

MIP/@wif UNITED STATES PATENT orrron.

SAN D-BOX FOR CARS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 17, 1905.

Application iled July 12, 1905. Serial No. 269,360.

i To @ZZ whom, it ntcty concern.-

Be it known that I, DAVID B. KEnPoRTs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Sand-Boxes for Cars, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in sand-boxes for cars, and has for its object to provide a sand-box which will be simple in construction, simple in its operation, but willfeed the sand evenly upon the track, and is so constructed that the sand cannot become calred within the box by an undue amount of sand packing around the exit.

With these ends in view this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to i which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation will now be described in detail, reference being had to the acco'mpanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in whichg Figure l. is a plan view of my improved sand-box; Fig. 2, a vertical section through the same.

A represents the hopper of the sand-box, the rsides of which can be straight, as shown, or flaring outward. Said hopper is adapted to contain the supply of sand.

B represents the bottom of the hopper, which is pyramidical in form, so as to slant from the center toward all sides. This bottom does not come in contact with the sides of the hopper upon two sides; but the edges of the bottom are removed a slight distance therefrom. The sides of the hopper below the bottom B incline downward toward the center toward the exit-pipe C. The openings between the edges of the bottom and sides of the hopper are represented by the letter D', and it will be seen that the sand will flow through said openings D downward toward the exit-opening; but the bulli of the sand will be held4 by the bottom B, so that only a small amount of the sand around each edge will travel toward the exit-opening.

The exit-pipe C extends upward a distance above the point where the incline sides A of the hopper below the bottom joins with said pipe, and that portion of the pipe C above or upon the interior of the hopper is notched downward with V-shaped notches, as represented at C', and over this notched end of the pipe C is fitted a cap E, so that when the cap E is raised the sand will flow through the notches into the pipe C and downward upon the track, and these notches being V shape it will be seen that the .higher the cap E is raised the greater amount of sand will iiow through the same to the track.

F is a rod secured to the upper end of the cap E, extending upward through the bottom B and into and through a closed tube G, secured to the bottom B and projecting upward therefrom. Within this tube G is arranged a spring PI, which is interposed between a collar formed upon the rod F and the upper closed end of the tube G, so that the tendency of the spring is always to force the cap downward and cut off the flow of sand. In order to raise the cap E, I provide a lever I, pivoted intermediate of its two ends to the hopper A, the inward end of the lever being pivoted to the rod F, the outer end of the lever being provided with a foot-plate I, so that when the outer end of the-lever I is depressed the cap E will be raised. In order to hold the lever I depressed as long a time as the sand is desired to run, I provide a slotted spring-bar J, the upper end of said bar being secured to the side of the hopper, the lever I extending through the slot in the bar, and upon one side of the slot the bar is provided with teeth K, and that portion of the bar upon the other side of the slot contacts the other side of the lever I, tending to always force said lever in engagement with the teeth K, so that when the foot-plate I is de ressed the lever I will engage the teeth K an will be held in any position placed by said teeth; but when it is desired to release the lever I the operator simply presses the bar J sidewise with his foot, so as to relieve the teeth Kfrom engagement with the lever, and the lever will then instantly resume its normal position. Of course'there are several different devices that could be utilized for holding the lever I depressed. Therefore I do not wish to be limited to this form shown, and it is also obvious that different means could be employed Jfor raising the cap E, and where the sandbox is placed underneath the seats within the car a system of levers might have to be employed to reach to the platform, and a hand-lever might be used in connection with the foot-lever, if desired, either for holding the lever downward or for operating the same.

IOO

IIO

In order to adjust the size of the openings D, through which the sand passes to the lower portion of the hopper, a valve may be employed of any suitable form, here shown as consisting of a sliding plate M, adapted to slide under the outer edge of the bottom B and adjusted by means of a set-screw N,

swiveled in the walls of the hopper A and threaded through a lug depending from the plates M. Of course it is obvious that this plate could be moved and adjusted in diferent ways, and therefore I do not wish to be limited to this form of adjustment here shown. It is also obvious that the openings D could be on all four sides of the hopper, if so desired, and in some forms I intend to make the sand-boxes in that way.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a sand-box which is extremely simple inconstruction and yet will be durable and eilicient in action and provide means whereby the sand will be fed to the exit-opening in only the quantity desired, and the sand cannot pack around the exit-opening in such quantities as to prevent the same running out.

Of course I do not wish to be limited in any way to the details of construction here shown, as modifications could be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is- 1. In a sand-box for cars, a hopper in which the sand is stored, the bottom of the hopper slanting from the center toward all sides, the bottom being provided with a slot around the edges of the same next to the wall of the hopper through which the sand may pass, that portion of the hopper below the bottom being inclined downward toward the center, an exit-pipe with which the inclined sides of the lower portion of the hopper connect, said exit-pipe extending upward a distance beyond the point where the inclined sides connect with the pipe, said extending ortion being notcheddownward with V- a ed notches, a cap fitting over this notche end of the pipe, a spring adapted to hold the cap normally downward, means for raising said cap from the exterior of the device, means for holding the cap in its raised posi-tion and for releasing the same at any time desired, and means for regulating the size of the openings in the bottom through which the sand issues, as specified.

2. In a sand-box for cars, a hopper, an exit-pipe extending from the lower end of the hopper, the sides of the hopper inclining downward and toward said exit-pipe, a plate arranged within the hopper dividing the same into an upper and lower apartment, said plate being inclined from the center downward toward all sides, the bulk of the sand adapted to be contained in the hopper above the plate, openings provided between the edges of the plate Aand the walls of the hopper through which the sand is adapted to issue, valves for controlling and regulating the size of said openings, said valves adapted to be operated from the exterior ot the device, the exit-pipe protruding into the hopper a distance above the point where the inclined sides join saidrpipe, this extending portion being provided with V-shaped notches notched `downward from the upper end, a cap fitting over this notched end of the pipe, a spring adapted to normally hold the cap downward so that the lower edge of the cap is below the lower end ofthe notches, means for raising the cap from the exterior diilerent means for holding the cap in any position it may be raised, and means for releasing the same, as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto aflixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.Y

DAVID B. KEEPORTS.

Witnesses:

MARY E. HAMER, L. W. MORRISON. 

